Why we think Philip Seymour Hoffman is a Type 4

• In search of meaning. In interviews, Hoffman came across as introspective, reflective, and philosophical, searching for meaning in his roles and in life.

• Desire to be mysterious. On Wikipedia he is quoted as saying, "The less you know about me the more interesting it will be to watch me do what I do." 

• Fame as an obstacle. He speaks about fame being a detriment to his creative side because it prevents him from expressing what he needs and wants to express. 

• Overwhelmed by perfectionism. He sinks deep into his work and characters to try to reach perfection. From Wikipedia: "He explained how deeply he loved acting but added, "that deep kind of love comes at a price: for me, acting is torturous, and it's torturous because you know it's a beautiful thing ... Wanting it is easy, but trying to be great—well, that's absolutely torturous." 

• Attraction to darkness. From Wikipedia: His struggle was confirmed by the author John le Carré, who met Hoffman during the adaptation of his novel A Most Wanted Man. While praising the actor's intelligence and intuition, le Carré acknowledged the burden that Hoffman felt: "It was painful and exhausting work, and probably in the end his undoing. The world was too bright for him to handle.” 

• Emotional depth. Hoffman didn't shy away from the darker aspects of the human experience and often played characters grappling with complex emotions. For example, in Love Liza (2002), he played a man struggling with intense grief and melancholy after his wife's suicide. In Magnolia (1999), he portrayed a compassionate nurse attending to a dying man, a role imbued with a sense of profound sadness. 

• Individuality. Hoffman's choice of roles showcases an emphasis and search for individuality. He often chose unique, complex characters that differed significantly from standard Hollywood stereotypes.

• Feelings of Inadequacy. Despite his enormous talent and critical acclaim, Hoffman often spoke in interviews about his feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Hoffman mentioned that when he bagged the role of Willy Loman in the play Death of a Salesman, he had feelings of unease, and was scared he could not reach his own standards. He said, "If I can’t feel like I achieved something at the level I’m going to be disappointed at, then I torture myself." On NPR’s Fresh Air Podcast in 2012, Hoffman discussed his portrayal of Lancaster Dodd in The Master, saying he constantly second-guessed whether he was doing justice to the character. He stated that he was always critically analyzing his own work and felt a lingering inadequacy about the final product.